Entertainment Blogs

An online journal about visual art, the urban landscape and design. Mary Louise Schumacher, the Journal Sentinel's art and architecture critic, leads the discussion and a community of writers contribute to the dialogue.

While we strive for a lively and vigorous debate of the issues, we do not tolerate name calling, foul language or other inappropriate behavior. Please see our discussion guidelines and terms of use for more information.

While we do our best to moderate comments, we do not screen comments before they are posted. If you see a comment that violates our guidelines, please use the "Report Abuse" link to notify us of the issue.

This is laughable! Barrett and his commissioners are going out of their way to circumvent its historical nomination. They are not supporting its historical integrity. The city bought it under shady circumstances with intentions of tearing it down. You are a bonfide knucklehead for coming on here suggesting Tom Barrett gives two craps about this building. Blissfully uninformed spewing ridiclous misinformation.

It is about time this piece of crap be demolished and move on with rebuilding the city.The amount of time, effort and money spent on this pig is a shame. In its heyday, yes it was fun but that was then and it is time to move on. This building other than being an old piece of crap has no historical significance as those buildings in downtown Milwaukee. Way too much time spent move on and clear all that area for development and possible creation of jobs. Again quit wasting taxpayers dollars.

No historical value? This is the site of the first commercial brick building in Milwaukee in 1840, then the main commercial district of Kilbourntown. Then the Hustis Public Hall, founder John Hustis was a Yale Grad and one of the first editors of This very Milwaukee Sentinel. The town Hustisford is named after him.In 1876 it became the private practice and experimental surgical laboratory of Dr. Nicholas Senn. His contributions to surgical science are still practiced today. He was the premiere surgeon of his era, gaining global recognition. In fact a Historical marker was placed on the building signifying his contributions to modern medical science. He was Surgeon General of both Wisconsin and Illinois, and the American Medical Association President.The building was also a long time financial institution, The West Side Bank, which boasted nearly every top brewer in the city as its share holders... Only in the 1970's did it become Sydney HiH.You may think it should be demolished stil, or that it is too far gone, but do not come on here spouting your uninformed nonsense about their being a lack of historical integrity.

E-mail Newsletter

Keep up with the art scene and trends in urban design with art and architecture critic Mary Louise Schumacher. Every week, you'll get the latest reviews, musings on architecture and her picks for what to do on the weekends.